As one continues to use Vicodin on a prolonged basis, the effects of Vicodin tend to become more noticeable. Initially, a person may experience dizziness, constipation, skin rashes or nausea. By this time they are already addicted to the drug. As the Vicodin addiction progresses and tolerance increases, more significant symptoms tend to occur. These symptoms might be an confusion, irregular heart rate, isolation and in late stage addiction even hallucinations.

Vicodin is a prescription medication used to assist in the management of pain. It is well documented that the use of Vicodin can easily lead to addiction when it is not taken as prescribed. In many cases, people continue to use this medication even when the pain they began taking it for was no longer present. The longer a person continues taking Vicodin and the more they increase the dosage, the greater the tolerance they create. The greater the tolerance, the more Vicodin someone must take to achieve the same feeling. This becomes particularly problematic when someone decides they no longer want to continue Vicodin using. To abruptly discontinue its use, without a medically supervised detox protocol, could lead to seizures, convulsions or even death.

Being that Vicodin is an opiate, it must be prescribed by a licensed physician. Because the medication is by prescription only and a physician has suggested the medication might help them, denial plays a major obstacle in recovery. The person states that "the doctor prescribed it for me". What they don't realize is that they are no longer taking the Vicodin as the doctor prescribed. The Vicodin is being taken more frequently and in greater doses than it was ever prescribed.

Vicodin abuse is no different than many other drugs, in that it can have negative effects on a person's brain. It has been found that Vicodin addiction reduces many chemicals the brain needs to function. Endorphins are one of those chemicals. The only way to reverse this process is to discontinue taking the Vicodin. It is too uncomfortable and dangerous for someone to do this on their own so many people just continue to take the additional Vicodin. You can see the vicious cycle Vicodin addiction creates.

In almost every case, treatment for Xanax addiction begins with an admission to a detox center for the management and treatment of any withdrawal symptoms. In most cases, withdrawal symptoms are manageable under the care of a physician trained in addiction medicine. A physician trained in addiction medicine is referred to as an addictionologist.

After completing detox, which can last between 10 and 14 days, most people transition into residential care. Due to the emotional trauma people have experienced, it takes time to learn how to cope with the feelings they suppressed for so long. It is best to begin this process in a supportive therapeutic environment, which is designed to eliminate outside distractions and allow a person to focus on the issues surrounding their recovery. Residential treatment is approximately 3 weeks in length.